Current information on the Hawadle is limited among the sources consulted by the DIRB. According to Africa Confidential, the Hawadle control Beled Weyne, in Hiran Region, but they have ignored the interests of the "settled minority there from Aydeed's clan, the Habr Gidir" (16 Feb. 1996, 3). General Aydeed lost control of Beled Weyne in October 1994 (ibid. AFP 25 Jan. 1996). In September 1995, Africa Confidential described Hiran Region as the Hawadle province (8 Sept. 1995, 6).

Agence France Presse reported in January 1996 that the Habr Gidir clan elder in the Beletweyn claimed that the Hawadle militia wanted "to eradicate all Habr Gedir clansmen from Beletweyn and the Hiran region as a whole" (25 Jan. 1996).

In March 1996 the BBC reported that Aidid's forces had attacked a village in Hiran region, but it did not specify the clan identity of the inhabitants (24 Mar. 1996). That same month, a Hawadle minister in Aidid's self-proclaimed government was killed by unknown gunmen (Xinhua 1 Apr. 1996; Reuters 28 Mar. 1996).

For additional information, please consult the attachments.

Please note that the spelling of Somali names and words is not consistent in the literature, and that each of the spellings used in this Response reflect the original spelling found in the cited sources.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Africa Confidential [London]. 16 February 1996. Vol. 37, No. 4. "Somalia: Aydeed Again."

_____. 8 September 1995. Vol. 36, No. 18. "Somalia: Fighting On."

Agence France Presse (AFP) [Paris, in English]. 25 January 1996. "Houses Burned Down in Central Somalia Over Faction Fighting." (FBIS-AFR-96-018 26 Jan. 1996, p. 5)

BBC World Service [London, in English]. 24 March 1996. "Somalia: Aidid Militiamen Loot Village Before Visit." (FBIS-AFR-96-058 25 Mar. 1996, p. 5)

Reuters. 28 March 1996. BC Cycle. "Deputy Aideed Minister Assassinated in Somalia." (NEXIS)

Xinhua News Agency. 1 April 1996. "Death of 'Deputy Minister' Causes Confusion in Somali Capital." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Africa Confidential [London]. 16 February 1996. Vol. 37, No. 4. "Somalia: Aydeed Again," pp. 3-5.

_____. 8 September 1995. Vol. 36, No. 18. "Somalia: Fighting On," pp. 5-6.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 27 January 1996. "Islamic Court Imposes Curfew in North Mogadishu." (NEXIS)

_____ [Paris, in English]. 25 January 1996. "Houses Burned Down in Central Somalia Over Faction Fighting." (FBIS-AFR-96-018 26 Jan. 1996, p. 5)

BBC World Service [London, in English]. 24 March 1996. "Somalia: Aidid Militiamen Loot Village Before Visit." (FBIS-AFR-96-058 25 Mar. 1996, p. 5)

Reuters. 28 March 1996. BC Cycle. "Deputy Aideed Minister Assassinated in Somalia." (NEXIS)

Xinhua News Agency. 1 April 1996. "Death of 'Deputy Minister' Causes Confusion in Somali Capital." (NEXIS)
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